Italian art conquers Osaka. Works on display for another three months
Atlas, Leonardo's Codex and Perugino painting will be on display until 12 January 2026 at the City Museum of Fine Arts
by R.I.T.
The masterpieces of Italian art conquer the Japanese public. And this is why - even after the conclusion of Expo 2025 in Osaka scheduled for 13 October - some of the most significant works among those exhibited at the Italian Pavilion during the Universal Exhibition will remain in Japan for another three months.
The initiative
This was announced yesterday by the Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025, Ambassador Mario Vattani: thanks to the collaboration with the Asahi Group, the selected works will be exhibited at the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts from 25 October to 12 January 2026, as part of the exhibition 'Atlante Farnese and the Treasures of the Italy Pavilion from Expo 2025 Osaka'. The exhibition will allow visitors to admire the Atlante Farnese, two new sheets of Leonardo da Vinci's Atlantic Codex and Perugino's Gonfalone della Giustizia. The activities of the Italy Pavilion therefore continue beyond the time limits of the Universal Exhibition, thanks to this initiative realised with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Italian Embassy in Tokyo, the Italian Consulate in Osaka and the Italian Institute of Culture.
Italy-Japan, a 160-year relationship
An initiative that also symbolically inaugurates the celebrations for the 160th anniversary of relations between Italy and Japan, scheduled for next year. "We want the legacy of the Expo to accompany the beginning of the 160th anniversary of our bilateral relations," said Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, explaining that the permanence of the Farnese Atlas will be "the manifesto of this bond, which will be enriched with other works and cultural initiatives.
This is certainly 'a sign of gratitude on the part of the host country,' stressed Vattani, 'but it is also confirmation that our participation has left a deep mark on Japanese society and culture. The diplomacy of growth and culture that we have promoted here will be able to continue to tell the story of Italy as a partner capable of associating beauty with a very high technological and innovative capacity.
The Italian Ambassador to Japan, Gianluigi Benedetti, recalled that 'the Italian Pavilion was among the most appreciated and visited at Expo' and that the new exhibition 'will ideally continue that experience'.
